Disqualified MLAs Were Not Given A Single Penny: Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: In the wake of the disqualification of his party AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) MLAs, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that bypolls to 20 Assembly seats have been “imposed” on the people of the national capital.

The by-elections would “hamper” development works for the next two years, said Kejriwal while addressing a gathering during a Basant Panchami celebration in New Delhi.

The CM added that he is not scared of the Bharatiya Janata Party as he is on the way of truth and the people of Delhi are with him.

In a major setback to the ruling AAP in Delhi, President Ram Nath Kovind has disqualified 20 of its MLAs for holding offices of profit. Kovind gave his assent on Saturday to the recommendation in this regard by the Election Commission.

These MLAs were appointed parliamentary secretaries to assist ministers with their work by the AAP dispensation.

Kejriwal claimed the disqualified MLAs were not given a single penny by the Delhi government.

“I had given the responsibility of various works to these 20 MLAs. They were asked to take care of schools, hospitals, mohalla clinics. One MLA was given the responsibility of public schools.”

“This MLA used to visit schools to check if teachers are present in public schools and spend from his own pockets to carry out this work. We have not given a single penny to these 20 MLAs,” Kejriwal said.

He said by imposing by-elections, the BJP has halted development works for the next two years.

Earlier on Monday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had written an open letter to Delhiites, terming the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs as “dirty politics” of the BJP.

“They have imposed polls on Delhi by disqualifying our 20 MLAs. There will be a model code of conduct and all government’s works will come to a halt.”

“Thereafter, the Lok Sabha polls will come due to which model code of conduct will come into effect again, stopping development works. After this, (Delhi) Assembly polls will take place,” Sisodia said in the letter.

Sharing the letter on Twitter, Sisodia said that the BJP has “imposed” bypolls to the 20 Assembly seats on the people of Delhi, effectively hampering the development works in the city for the next two years.

However, his letter had invited criticism from the BJP, with party Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari challenging the Aam Aadmi Party to contest on all the 70 seats.